Eid-ul-Fitr 2020: Shawwal moon sighted, Eid to be observed tomorrow

The committee’s session to sight the Shawwal moon was held in Karachi with Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman in the chair.

Meetings of the zonal committees took place at their respective provincial headquarters. The Pakistan Meteorological Department experts were also a part of the session.

Referring to science minister Fawad Chaudhry — who had already declared Eid in Pakistan on Sunday — the mufti said that the minister “has no real authority” to decide over such matters.

Taking exception to his announcement in advance, Mufti Muneeb said that the minister “should not interfere in religious matters”.

“We demand that the prime minister prevent him from interfering in religious matters.”

He denied that there was any “government pressure” to make the announcement.

‘Central committee to make final decision’

Earlier, in Quetta, the province’s zonal committee announced that it has received a few testimonies from Pasni and Ormara. “We have informed the Central committee of this,” said Qari Abdul Rasheed.

The zonal committee said the final decision will be made by the Central committee.

Mufti Muneeb, addressing the media, had said that “when the final decision will be made, it will be announced before the media”. He said it was “not appropriate” to speculate at this time.

Religious affairs minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, in a conversation with Geo News, said that the committee will be the one to make the final decision about the observance of Eid.

“The matter is a religious one, which needs religious expertise,” he said.

He said input from science “will never be turned away and can be used” but it is “unacceptable” to declare the moon sighted in advance without eyewitness testimony.

Qibla Ayaz of the Islamic Council of Ideology said that if Badin and other cities of Sindh provide testimony, there will be greater chances that Eid will be held tomorrow. He said that word from these cities is being awaited.

Speaking of technology, he said that ulema do not oppose science but “the tradition of Ruet must be kept alive”.